Month: January 2022

RIP BlackBerry: Don’t bin your bricked phone

What should you do with your useless old device? We have the best top tips.

The news that the once much-loved Blackberry smartphone will stop working this week leave owners with the question of what to do with their old device.

The immediate reaction for too many people these days is to fling it into the bin, but one waste and recycling company suggests owners to look for alternatives for their now redundant devices.

UK waste collection company Divert.co.uk says that rubbish dumps are already filled with electronic devices which should have gone to recycling. Not only is this a waste of resources, but poses risks due to their contents.

The Blackberry has served us well,” says Divert.co.uk spokesperson Mark Hall, “and now it’s time for it to ascend to phone Valhalla. Just not via your bin.”

1001 uses for a bricked mobile

When most of us replace our old mobile phone, it’s often passed to a friend or family member, or sold second hand. And there are loads of shops and websites which will take your old device for varying amounts of cash.

But for Blackberries and other obsolete devices, that’s not going to be an option. Nobody wants to buy a “bricked” device, so they have zero cash value. The first reaction for many owners would be to bin the worthless chunk of metal and plastic.

Just hold your horses – there’s still plenty you can do with an old mobile, and we’ve come up with a list, some serious, some not so serious.

  1. Take it your local authority small electrics (WEEE) recycling point
  2. Keep it in a drawer for twenty years and donate it to a museum
  3. Give it to your grandchildren as a relic from the olden days
  4. Turn it into a doorstopper and earn £20 from Take A Break magazine by calling it a “Top Tip”
  5. Novelty paperweight
  6. Put it in a biscuit tin along with a copy of the Radio Times and a Robbie Williams CD (50p from all charity shops), and bury it in the garden for future archaeologists to puzzle over
  7. Carry it everywhere, in case you need to fashion the insides into some sort of spontaneous escape mechanism, like on MacGyver
  8. Prise off the tiny keyboard and make it into a laptop for a hamster or other small pet
  9. Give it to the Star Trek fan in your life, telling them it’s an original series medical tricorder
  10. Use the latest Ghostbusters technology to trap a ghost inside, and send the now cursed device to your enemy
  11. 991 other uses, none of which being “throw it in the bin”

“We honestly had 991 other uses,” says Divert’s Mark Hall, “but I had the list stored on my old Blackberry, and it doesn’t seem to be working any more. Sorry.”

Why you shouldn’t bin your old mobile

Throwing your old bin in the bin is what we in the recycling industry call “a very bad thing”.

Did you know that around 70% of metals that end up in landfill sites come from old electronics, the majority of which are obsolete mobile phones?

These devices contain precious and semi-precious metals such as cobalt, copper, gold, silver and lithium.

Mark Hall: “It’s madness that millions of these are buried in the ground at tips outside virtually every town when the material could be put to use elsewhere.

“Not only that, there are pollution and fire risks caused by dumped mobile phone batteries which contain lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese.

“A phone battery is perfectly safe left as it is, but the moment it’s damaged by weight of other rubbish at the tip, it’s just inviting pollution, fire and other risks. “And that’s why you should never bin an old mobile phone.”

Our best advice is to either recycle or keep it as a treasured possession from years gone by. Either way, your grandchildren will thank you.

Searches for ‘SELL BLACKBERRY’ explode 1,528% as company announced the device will stop working

Analysis of Google search data reveals that online searches for “Sell BlackBerry” exploded 1,528% on 4th January, the same day BlackBerry announced they would be stopping the support for their operating system used on their phones.

Analysis by internet experts VpnOverview.com reveals that online interest for selling old BlackBerry phones skyrocketed to 16 times the average volume in one day as owners of old BlackBerry phones seek to sell their devices.

A spokesperson from VpnOverview.com commented on the findings: “BlackBerry was the go-to smartphone brand in the early 2010s with the brand’s phones being easily recognised because of their qwerty keyboards.

“In more recent years, BlackBerry has fallen behind companies like Apple and Samsung in the smartphone market. Customers could be looking to sell not only because they are unable to use the device but also to profit from the vintage aspect the phone will now adopt.

“This is a big move by BlackBerry as they look to strengthen their position in the cyber-security software market.”

Google searches for “BlackBerry phones” also increased 590% on the same day.

Lorna Slater urges Lothian young people to apply for free bus card

Young people in Lothian are being urged by their local Scottish Greens MSP to apply for a new card which will allow anyone aged 21 or under to travel on the bus for free.

The scheme is being implemented by the Scottish Government, following budget negotiations with the Scottish Greens. It commences at the end of the month. Lorna Slater MSP is urging all eligible young people to apply, especially those who are key workers during COVID restrictions.

From today, anyone between 5-21 can apply for a new Young Scot Card or National Entitlement Card via the Transport Scotland website. Old cards will not work in the scheme.

Scottish Greens MSP for Lothian, Lorna Slater said: “I am delighted that young people will be able to travel anywhere in Scotland by bus for free from the end of the month.I’d encourage all young people who rely on buses for essential travel in Lothian to apply for their cards as soon as possible.

“As Covid travel restrictions start to lift, even more young people will be able to get onboard and enjoy the opportunity of free travel.

“Public transport will be a crucial part of the green recovery. By providing free buses we are helping to tackle Scotland’s role in the climate emergency while opening up opportunities for young people and their families.

“I’m very proud that this Green policy has gone from the drawing board to reality and, despite the difficulties of Covid, essential travellers, such as key workers, will be able to feel the benefit from day one.”

A number of different methods will be available for 5–21 year olds to get their card to access free bus travel: online at GETYOURNEC.SCOT or through parentsportal.scot if it is used by the child’s school; via a local council where it is not possible to apply online; and, in some local council areas, schools are coordinating applications on behalf of their pupils.

* Young people aged 16-21 should apply themselves.

* Parents or guardians will be required to apply on behalf of 5-15 year olds.

* Children under the age of 5 do not need to apply as they already travel for free on commercial bus services without a card.

New campaign launched to help parents improve children’s diet

  • New Better Health campaign launches today to help families eat better, with new NHS Food Scanner App feature offering healthier alternatives
  • Former ‘Girls Aloud’ member Nadine Coyle, dietician Dr Linia Patel and a Netmums family test the app in a new film supporting the campaign
  • 60% of parents say they are giving their children more sugary or fatty snacks than before the pandemic

Families will be given support to help to improve the diets of their children through a new campaign as the new statistics reveal the number of parents giving unhealthy snacks to their children has increased during the pandemic.

The multimedia Better Health campaign has been launched today [Monday January 10] to encourage families to eat better and includes a new ‘scan, swipe and swap’ feature for the NHS Food Scanner App, which provides a simple solution to help families maintain a healthier diet.

The campaign follows a record rise in obesity amongst children since the start of the pandemic, with latest data highlighting that one in four (27.7%) children of reception school age are overweight or obese; this rises to 4 in 10 (40.9%) in Year 6 (ages 10-11). Evidence shows that families purchased food more during lockdowns and this remained above normal levels even once lockdowns ended.

A new survey conducted with Netmums showed that nearly 6 in 10 (58%) parents give their children more sugary or fatty snacks than before the pandemic and nearly two-thirds (64%) of parents said they often worry about how healthy their children’s snacks really are. Nearly 90% of parents said they would benefit from an App which would help them make healthier choices for their children.

Families can scan the product barcodes from their shop and the app will suggest healthier alternatives to help them make an easy swap next time they shop.

The app uses a “Good Choice” badge to help signpost people to healthier food and drinks in line with the government’s dietary recommendations for added sugar, saturated fat and salt.

Public Health Minister Maggie Throup said: “We know that families have felt a lot of pressure throughout the pandemic which has drastically changed habits and routines.

“The new year is a good time for making resolutions, not just for ourselves, but for our families. Finding ways to improve their health is one of the best resolutions any of us could make.

“By downloading the free NHS Food Scanner App, families can swap out foods from the weekly shop for healthier alternatives and avoid items high in salt, sugar and saturated fat.”

Dr Alison Tedstone, Chief Nutritionist at DHSC said: “We are all aware of the increased pressures families have been under throughout the pandemic with children being stuck at home more.

“With advertising promoting unhealthy foods to kids, it’s not surprising that parents say they’ve often found it hard to resist pestering from their children for more unhealthy snacks, and that is why the NHS Food Scanner App is a great tool to help families make quick and easy healthier swaps.

“It’s so important that children reduce the amount of sugary, fatty and salty foods they eat to help them stay healthy and reduce the risk of health problems such as diabetes and tooth decay.”

‘Girls Aloud’ member Nadine Coyle and dietician Dr Linia Patel met with a family to talk about eating habits and to trial the NHS Food Scanner App for themselves, and recorded a short film to support the campaign.

Nadine Coyle said: “As a busy working mum, I find it hard to say no to my kid’s demands and often give in to “snack” pressure – even though I know it’s not that good for them. I had no idea some foods were so high in sugar, saturated fat and salt – so it’s great that the App gives you alternatives.

“I love using the NHS Food Scanner App and so does my daughter; she likes choosing the healthier swaps which is great – we are already making small changes through good food choices.”

Dr Linia Patel, Dietician said: “We know that parents find it really hard to find healthier snacks for their kids, especially if they’re fussy eaters.

“The NHS Food Scanner App is a fun way to get the kids involved in choosing healthier foods that they’ll love – so get going and scan, swipe, swap!”

Annie O’Leary, Netmums Editorial Director said: “That two thirds or parents find they’re giving kids more treats as snacks than pre-pandemic doesn’t surprise me in the slightest – we all comfort ate our way through the pandemic and I know my kids ate far more treats than usual.

“But thank heavens there’s now something to help get us all back on track. And that it’s from the gold standard in terms of trustworthiness, the NHS, hopefully means millions of families will be downloading it and using it ASAP.

“Shopping for snacks can be an absolute minefield for busy parents, so thank you for coming to the rescue yet again, NHS.”

As part of the UK Government’s Obesity Strategy, the department is regulating the promotion of less healthy foods to children and has dedicated £100m of funding to support children, adults and families achieve and maintain a healthier weight.

The NHS Food Scanner App provides parents with the ideal hack to improve their children’s health in 2022. The free App can be downloaded or search ‘Food Scanner App’.

Why being hacked can be good for your business

Businesses are taking cybersecurity more seriously than ever. In 2021, executives ramped up their cybersecurity spending in response to the explosion of cyber-attacks exploiting lockdown remote working.

Despite this, the frequency and severity of security breaches has only increased, with small to medium businesses in the UK subject to an astonishing average of 10,000 attempted cyber-attacks a day.

Successful attacks breach sensitive data, and recovery can result in severe financial losses, sometimes millions of pounds, for affected businesses.

So, what is going wrong?

Cybersecurity experts agree that one of the biggest issues is that businesses are not spending their security budgets in the right places.

Anthony Green, CTO of cybersecurity consultants FoxTech, works to prevent cyber-attacks, and helps companies who have experienced a security breach: ““What we are seeing is that usually, IT strategies fail when businesses don’t actually know what their weaknesses are – or indeed don’t realise they have any at all.

“Many companies believe their networks are secure because they have outsourced their IT or installed an anti-virus package. Unfortunately, this is like going on holiday and locking your front door, but leaving all your windows wide open – traditional security methods are not comprehensive, and hackers can easily find and exploit your remaining vulnerabilities.”

This is where ethical hacking, also known as penetration testing, comes in. Ethical hacking is when an accredited cybersecurity consultancy carries out a simulated cyber-attack against your computer system.

Penetration testers can identify exploitable flaws in bespoke software, carry out scenario testing to discover how incidents, such as a compromised DMZ host, impact on your security, and test your businesses’ response capabilities to attack or temporary vulnerability.

Anthony comments: “It’s impossible to take the right cybersecurity actions without knowing what your problems are. This is why penetration testing really is crucial. 

“Subjecting your IT infrastructure to ethical hacking by someone who isn’t going to steal your data is one of the best things you can do to prevent a real hacker gaining access. Initially, companies can find it hard to believe that hacking could ever be ethical, let alone good for their business – but it is the best way to find out exactly how vulnerable your business is to an attack.”

Once penetration testing has shown you where your weak spots are, and what methods hackers could use to exploit them, the next step is to fix, secure and block these paths to access.

Most companies’ current IT protection plans focus only on the last step – blocking access – without necessarily knowing exactly where that access is.

Any kind of vulnerability assessment like penetration testing provides an exciting opportunity to find out if your business and your data is properly protected from attack, and should be seen as an essential aspect of any good cybersecurity strategy.

UK Government urges pregnant women to Get Boosted Now

Pregnant women are being urged to Get Boosted Now in a new advertising campaign launched today over social media and radio

  • Pregnant women are being urged to Get Boosted Now in a New Year advertising drive launched today
  • New social media and radio assets highlight the risks of catching the virus and benefits of the vaccines to both mothers and their babies
  • Almost all pregnant women who were hospitalised or admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 were unvaccinated

Pregnant women who have not yet had their first, second, third or booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are being urged to get their jab as soon as possible, as the government launches a new advertising campaign for the New Year.

The new campaign joins forces with the experts at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) to highlight the serious risks of catching COVID-19 and the benefits the vaccines bring to protecting both mothers and their babies.

Testimonies of pregnant women who have had the jab to keep themselves safe will be played out in adverts across social media and radio stations across the country from today [Monday January 10].

The new campaign urges pregnant women ‘don’t wait to take the vaccine’ and highlights the risks of COVID-19 to mother and baby, and the benefits of vaccination.

The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows COVID-19 vaccinations provide strong protection for pregnant women against the virus. It also shows the vaccines are safe for pregnant women, with similar birth outcomes for those who had the vaccine and those who had not.

DHSC Chief Scientific Adviser and Honorary Consultant Obstetrician Professor Lucy Chappell said: “Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most important things a pregnant woman can do this year to keep herself and her baby as safe from this virus as possible.

We have extensive evidence now to show that the vaccines are safe and that the risks posed by COVID-19 are far greater.

“If you haven’t had your COVID-19 vaccine, I would urge you to speak to your clinician or midwife if you have any questions or concerns, and book in your vaccine as soon as you can.”

Data from the UK Obstetric Surveillance System shows 96.3% of pregnant women admitted to hospital with COVID-19 symptoms between May and October 2021 were unvaccinated, a third of which (33%) requiring respiratory support. Around 1 in 5 women who are hospitalised with the virus need to be delivered preterm to help them recover and 1 in 5 of their babies need care in the neonatal unit.

The COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant women and have no impact on fertility, which has been made extremely clear by the government, its senior clinicians and a range of independent experts from stakeholder groups such as RCOG the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the British Fertility Society.

Since April 2021, around 84,000 pregnant women have received one dose and over 80,000 have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. In August 2021, only 22% of women who gave birth were vaccinated.  

Dr Edward Morris, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “We welcome this national campaign as an important way of amplifying the very clear message to pregnant women that vaccination provides the best protection for both them and their babies from COVID-19. We urge all pregnant women to get vaccinated as soon as possible, and to get boosted 3 months after the second dose.

We are very concerned that many pregnant women have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19 and we hope this campaign will help reassure them that vaccination is safe and effective. Pregnant women are more vulnerable of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 infection, and this can lead to an increased risk of giving birth prematurely, and stillbirth.

“Gill Walton, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said: There is overwhelming evidence that the COVID vaccine is safe for pregnant women and for their babies – and that it’s the best way to keep them safe from harm. Sadly, there are too many pregnant women being admitted to hospital with COVID, and 96.3% of them haven’t been vaccinated.

“The consequences of COVID when you are pregnant are clear and potentially devastated, from increased possibility of premature birth and admission to intensive care to a heightened risk of stillbirth.

“We know that pregnant women want to do everything they can to protect their baby, which is why midwives want to reassure them that vaccination is the best thing they can do.”

Dr Jen Jardine, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, who is also seven months pregnant and has had her COVID-19 booster jab, said: “Both as a doctor and pregnant mother myself, we can now be very confident that the COVID-19 vaccinations provide the best possible protection for you and your unborn child against this virus.

“I would strongly call on all pregnant women like me, if you haven’t had the vaccine yet, to either speak to your GP or midwife if you still have questions and then book right away today.”

Waving goodbye to alcohol this January? Say hello to Heineken 0.0

And now the nation’s favourite alcohol free beer is available on draught too …

While we can’t predict exactly what the first month of 2022 will look like, we can be certain that plenty of people will be making positive lifestyle changes … enter Dry January.

For those who decide to go on the wagon for January, there’s no better-tasting alcohol-free beer to see them through than the nation’s favourite, Heineken 0.0. Regularly described as one of the best tasting beers on the market, alcohol or no alcohol, Heineken 0.0 bottles and cans (330ml) contain 69 calories providing a great choice for those looking to moderate.

Heineken 0.0 is made with the same quality ingredients as its alcoholic original, boasting the familiar and characteristic fruity notes of the 5% ABV Heineken Original, the only difference being that 0.0 is without the alcohol.

The non-alcoholic beverage is double brewed with a unique recipe and has its alcohol content carefully removed to enable and empower consumers with choice, and options, to be able to moderate as part of a balanced lifestyle, whilst being able to enjoy every beer moment. 

In addition, and what is a seminal moment for the British beer and pub industries, 2022 will see the rollout of Heineken 0.0 Draught, the first alcohol free draught beer to sit alongside regular beer taps in pubs utilising the existing cellar set up.

Heineken 0.0 Draught will be available in hundreds of UK pubs next year, and the development of the product has been a labour of love for the brewer. Since 2017 scores of beer experts from HEINEKEN innovation breweries in four countries have worked together under the stewardship of HEINEKEN Global Master Brewer Willem Van Waesberghe to bring Heineken 0.0 Draught to market. 

The Low and No beer category is growing at around 30 per cent year-on-year but the introduction of draught is expected to cause an explosion in value in the market – by 2025 it could be worth as much as £250 million.

Commenting on Heineken 0.0, Matt Saltzstein, Beer Unit Director said: “Heineken 0.0 allows people to enjoy a delicious beer on any occasion without ever having to compromise on flavour.

“For those that have committed to moderating their alcohol intake this January, or even going completely dry for the month, Heineken 0.0 means they can do so while still enjoying a refreshing and full-flavoured beer.

“In a month of saying no, alcohol-free Heineken 0.0 bottle and cans allows people to say yes.” 

Speaking on the launch of Heineken 0.0 Draught, Willem Van Waesberghe, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here. Once again, we’re leading the way when it comes to innovating and moving the beer category forward.

“Without a doubt, the best way to enjoy a beer is a freshly poured pint in a pub and Heineken 0.0 Draught is going to play a big part in changing the way people drink.

“For me and my team, one of the primary areas of focus, as always, is taste. The Draught beer tastes great, it’s the distinctive famous Heineken flavour, and it has all the sensory aspects beer drinkers look for – a mouth-watering aroma, bright white head and lively carbonation”. 

Heineken 0.0% is available in a 4 and 12 pack of 330ml bottles, and a 6 pack of 330ml cans in major supermarkets and convenience stores.

Signed the pledge? The driest January the UK has ever seen

New data shows the UK’s driest cities

  • The Driest January the UK has ever seen, new data shows the UK’s driest cities
  • London Is set to be the driest city this January with an incredible 1,072,154 participants prepared to give up alcohol for the entire month.
  • The UK wants to go dry, new data has shown a 22% increase of people searching to go dry from the previous year
  • It is estimated up to six million people will attempt dry January this year which is 12.4% of the population, with the average household saving £98.74 if successful.

The UK is set for its driest January ever as new research reveals the average household will save £100 from not buying alcohol.

A study by kitchen experts Maxima Kitchen Equipment used ONS and Google data to look at which of our cities will be the ‘driest’ this January.

With 24% of the nation already considering themselves to be tee-total, new data shows that one in five of the UK population will attempt dry January and one in four will make an active attempt to cut down their alcohol consumption within the month, as Brits become increasingly health conscious.

London comes in first place with 1,072,154 people expected to go dry for the month – the highest number of participants in the whole of the UK.

The average bottle of wine from a supermarket in the capital is £8 and the average beer price is £1.90. Studies indicate that the average Brit consumes 18 units of alcohol per week, which equates to two bottles of wine, or six beers. Therefore if successful, the participants would save a combined total of £59,062,623, as well as each household saving £109 on average.

In second place is Leeds with an estimated total of 225,912 people set to give up alcohol this month. The city if successful will save an astonishing £12,226,724, based on an average bottle of wine from a supermarket costing £6.90 and an average beer price of £2.10. Each individual household will have saved on average £92.52 by the end of the month.

Birmingham takes third place with 128,521 participants going dry this January. The study found the city’s average price for a beer in the supermarket was £1.60 and the average bottle of wine was £6.75. This means an average household would save £94.84 and the city will save all together an incredible £5,960,529.

Reading came in 25th place with a total of 27,418 participants wanting to go dry. The average wine price came in at £7.12 and the average beer at £2.00. This means the city is set to save £1,442,943 from one month of not drinking.

Furthermore, each participating household would save £105 this month upon completion.

Top Ten Driest UK Cities

Estimated number of people that will attempt dry January

1 London 1,072,154.00

2 Leeds 225,912.00 

3 Birmingham 128,521.00 

4 Sheffield 87,394.00 

5 Glasgow  71,686.00 

6 Poole 61,119.00 

7 Edinburgh 59,118.00 

8 Liverpool 55,693.00 

9 Bristol 55,693.00 

10 Manchester 51,408.00 

A spokesperson for Maxima Kitchen Equipment said: “Lots of people spend months looking forward to Christmas, and the chance to indulge a little more than usual, in both food and drink, it’s a key part of the excitement.

“However, in January it’s becoming more and more popular to try and start the year with a health-conscious mindset whether it be going dry for the month or just trying to drink a little bit less than usual.”

The research was carried out by Maxima Kitchen Equipment, which has more than 40 years of experience in the supply and maintenance of professional kitchen equipment.

Foysol Choudhury: Scotland needs a Culture Recovery

Shadow Culture Minister Foysol Choudhury MSP has set out his vision for a culture recovery as the Holyrood Parliament returns next week.

Whilst welcoming the recent announcement from the Scottish Government on additional funding, Foysol Choudhury said that a number of small community culture groups across Scotland were still struggling to gain access to crucial sources of finance.  

Mr Choudhury also said that Scotland’s gets a big return for the small for a small investment and urges more investment in the sector.

Shadow Culture Minister Foysol Choudhury MSP said: ‘’Parliament returns after the Christmas break on Monday and there can be no doubt, as the omicron continues to spread, our Culture sector needs help more than ever.

“The arts and culture sector needs a long-term recovery plan that’ll respond and support the sector. It was one of the first to shut and will be among the last to fully open.

“People’s livelihoods have been decimated and too many have fallen through the cracks.

“Whilst the Government has announced funding which is welcomed, many are still facing barriers to gaining access to funding, particularly from our smaller, community cultural groups.

“We need to better recognise the role our cultural and creative industries have in contributing to our economy and society. Not many will know that just 0.2% of the Scottish budget is spent on culture. Scotland gets so much back for so little investment.

“We need protection for essential cultural, social infrastructure in our communities which includes our local museums, historical sites, libraries and archivist services.

“Scotland needs a genuine Culture recovery as we emerge from COVID-19 and as Shadow Culture Minister, I’ll hold the Government effectively and ensure Scotland’s culture sector not only recovers from the pandemic but truly prospers.

“When Scottish Culture prospers, Scotland prospers.’’